Last Update: 10 DEC 2011


Keep the Sailors, Soldiers and Marines in the Mid-East
and Around the World in Your Prayers...
American and Allied Soldiers, Sailors and Merchant Mariners
Continue to Place Their Lives on the Line for You and Yours.
Bravo Zulu, Troops -


CAPTAIN JOHN "JACK" SMITH1 (1967-1969)

CAPT John C. Smith (Jack) is reported to be very ill and was not able to participate in the Reunion in Arizona. CAPT Smith was captain of the Rainier from 1967-1969 as I recall. Reported to us by Eugenia B. Smith. Keep the family in your prayers.


LETTER FROM ENS BINH (1969 to 1970)

You may recall ENS Truong Binh as a South Vietnamese Navy officer who sailed board Rainier for a few weeks,
along with a fellow officer from that country whose name as i recall was ENS Minh.
They were both very popular among the crew.
We published a note from him some time ago. Here's a recent letter from him:

Hello Bill (Welch),
First of all, thank you, Mr. Will Freeman and others for the good works to keep all Rainier’s sailors connected.
During the last year I had a problem with my health. So after I contacted the Webmaster Bill Freeman
of The RRA, I went quiet !!! Sorry for this ( even though I quietly send the annual due and donation….)
But now, my health is in better shape, I will contact both of you again in the future
Hopefully, my memory was good enough, so I can have some short stories to tell.
If the annual reunion is organized in this area , Lake Tahoe or Reno, or in California , definitely I will attend.
I now still working strong…
I will send you a quick note. Probably it will be good in the New Letter…
Thank you again. Wish both of you and your families a good Greeting for the Season ahead.
We're all hoping to see him in Reno in 2012 and discuss the old days.- Webmaster


REUNION REPORT FROM BILL WELCH

Reunion 2012 will be held in the Lake Tahoe, CA area (hosted by Skipper Stan Stuckey)
Future reunion possibilities are San Antonio, Gulfport & Mobile.

New officers are identified on the main page under the reunion heading.

A January 2012 membership update drive will seek to assure that all members are contacted and receive the Eruption newsletter.


WE HAVE A NEW SITE URL ADDRESS. www.ussrainier.com IF YOU HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS, EMAIL THE WEBMASTER
at wfreeman555@hotmail.com as I'm more
likely to see mail at that address.

NO MORE RAINIER GARB- T-SHIRTS- SWEATSHIRTS- HOODIES- WINDBREAKERS

BILL WELCH regrets to advise... the costs of quality-made Rainier Wear items such as the T-shirts, sweat shirts, hoodies & windbreakers are no longer available at a reasonable price (unless I order a ton of them) and will no longer be made available to the crew through the Rainier Assoc.
Since we were after American made goods, it looks like the Chinese have won. If anyone can locate such things at a reasonable price, let Bill Welch know. If you have one, it's a collector's item now. Bill


DONATIONS:

If you are interested in making a donation for the support of
this website, please feel free to contact the webmaster at wfreeman555@hotmail.com Thanks

E-MAIL DIRECTORY

The Email Directory of former Rainier Sailors (and a few family members) is being expanded daily as more and more shipmates are located.
To see who's included so far, CLICK HERE. Contributions and Corrections will be Appreciated.
SEA STORIES:

Contributions of photos, stories and memorabilia are always welcome. Get out those word processors (or typewriters for you WW2 guys)and write us about any of these subjects, or whatever else you want to talk about.

Your webmaster read that 3,000 (!) World War Two veterans die each month. Their personal stories and the history of that time are dying with them, and ought to be preserved for upcoming generations. This is one place to do it. Here's a recent contribution by Fred Reith to give you some inspiration: SAILOR BARS- AN ODE Write it all down. YOU may not think your particular story is very important, but someone, sometime, somewhere will be glad you did. If for no other reason, write it all down for your own family. Then- send a copy to us. Your story might make the next edition of the book "We Deliver-You Fire" Do you want some ideas as to how to write your story?
Just think how your memoirs would be treasured by your great-grandchildren ! Send a copy to us.
Try these themes:

1. The most "unforgettable" character or event.
2. The "Tonkin Gulf Incident".
3. Most memorable liberty or liberty port.
4. First day aboard.
5. Last day aboard.
6. Holidays at sea: barbecues in cluster bomb canisters, ships band, Christmas overseas, etc..
7. What I Did the Day the War Ended...(Whichever War YOU Were In).
8. How the Ship's Bell Got Its Crack.
9. The most "colorful" watering hole in Asia.
10."Close calls" while working, in combat, on "Shore Patrol" or on liberty.

Send in all those photos and stories ... This is the place to make them all live forever. Send to "wfreeman555@hotmail.com" You'll be glad you did.